Nice places to visit in Brazil - part 4. Monte Verde
From the website: http://guiamonteverde.com.br/english/
Pics: Amandy Gibbons
where you can sample delicious international cuisine,
enjoy outdoor activities such as go hiking and breathe some fresh air.
The small village of Monte Verde, with a population of 5000 inhabitants, is situated on the top of Mantiqueira Ridge (Brazilian Highlands), southeast Brazil. Since it is located near São Paulo, which is the biggest city of the country and the busiest economic center, Monte Verde receives a lot of tourists specially in the winter.
A visit to this mountain village is recommended to those who are in search of a peaceful holiday and the opportunity to enjoy its icy cold air, despite being in a tropical country. Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and breathe some fresh air!
Surrounded by mountains, this holiday resort, with a peaceful atmosphere, has European style brick-built houses spread out and tucked in the valley. That's why many people say it's "a little piece of the Swiss Alps".
CLIMATE
Altitude range: 1500 - 1600m
Humidity: low
Temperature: -10°C (usual in the winter)
Humidity: low
Temperature: -10°C (usual in the winter)
There might be a couple of the rarest occasions when you can witness a little piece of snow sight in Brazil. One of them could be a magic winter day in Monte Verde.
A LOT OF HILLS
The peaks of the steep hills can rise higher than 2000 m. Walk to the top and have a magnificent view!
FLORA & FAUNA
From the village as far as the eye can see there is green grass and tall, spreading trees. The bushy woods belong to the remains of "Mata Atlântica", a depleted Atlantic rain forest. But still the fresh scent of pines fills the air. There are also many eucalyptuses cultivated for paper making and old native evergreen conifers of the genus Araucaria.
This dense forest provides a niche for various animal species. There are several kinds of birds but the huge amount of fruit seeking humming birds is pervasive. Even from the residential area, you can hear the shrill cries of tropical birds, specially the twittering of humming birds. The residents like to lure them by means of a kind of a decoy consisting of a sugary water container resembling a flower, so that they can always have a pleasant view of their colourful hovering wings. People also feel tempted to feed the cute squirrels easily spotted in the bush, but please don't. They have to rely on their methods of getting their own food to be able to survive as a wild species.
One of the most appreciated forms of entertainment for Brazilian people, specially for the tranquil 'mineiros', is simply to relax with friends holding a glass of beer at the nearest pub.
Since everything you do in a foreign country should be classified as 'entertainment', just turn the TV on, get a local newspaper or stroll around the muddy streets to observe or get to know the people; or even take a walk through the market to compare it to yours at home.
The main options for leisure activities in Monte Verde are nature related: the ecotourism and other sports such as hiking and climbing on the mountains.
However, if you do get stressed with so much easiness, there are also adventurous activities which get your adrenalin going.
Besides window-shopping you can choose from a variety of outdoor activities, as follows:
Hiking options
A good starter, the easiest of all, the Pinheiro Velho Trail is a narrow road that proceeds from the main avenue and leads up to the airport. This path can be followed in only 10 minutes if you are exercising. However, if you are sauntering and sight seeing, you can take your time to look over the centenarian trees, specially the oldest pine tree of Monte Verde, which is 500 years old. By reaching the end of the trajectory, you can have a panorama of the whole village from the airport.
The trails that lead to the summits of "Mantiqueira Ridge" in the border of the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo are a must. The highest peaks, Chapéu do Bispo, Pedra Redonda and Pedra Partida can be seen from the village. From the top you can view Campos do Jordão and other Vale do Paraíba cities. The hiking on these trails are so light that you can take children with you.
You need a little bit more disposition to reach Pico do Selado, the summit point of the nearby mountains, 2083 metres high. It is longer and requires more endurance.
Go horse riding to explore the surroundings. If you wish, visit São Francisco Xavier, the neighbouring city.
The practice ofmountain bikebenefits from the wide open spaces of the region.
Rent a motorcycle to ride over the rough and steep ground.
Hire a single engine aircraft for an aerial view. At the airport you can schedule a flight to appreciate the breathtaking view of Serra da Mantiqueira.
Whether coming from São Paulo, Rio, or another place from Minas Gerais State (MG) you have to take "Fernão Dias" highway (BR-381) up to the town of Camanducaia (at km 135) where you'll take the road that will allow you to get to Monte Verde. Then, you just follow the signs and drive 30 kilometres up to the village. This asphalted narrow road is rather bumpy in its last 14 kilometres due to truck traffic damaging it. However, the landscape along the road is worth seeing.
From São Paulo there are daily departures to Camanducaia, where you can take another bus to Monte Verde. The timetable may change, so get informed beforehand at Bresser Station (phone 6694-0413).
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Take proper clothes. Even in the summer when it is very hot, the temperature might drop abruptly and the rain could be an incovenience. Keep in mind that the winter is very cold and dry when packing. So take gloves and all the works! (The lowest temperature ever recorded was -14°C in 1979).
When hiking take dark clothes (you may get dirty on the mud) and a bottle of water. Mosquitoes won't be a problem in this region. A knapsack by freeing your hands will allow you to get hold of some support when climbing steep slopes. At night a pair of binoculars would help you appreciate the sky.
BEST TIME TO GO
The greatest number of visitors are attracted to the cold weather of the mountain resort in July, when it is school vacation time. So you should book a hotel room some weeks before, if you're intending to spend a weekend during the winter season.
The prices of accomodation drop considerably out of season. Besides the period from April to August, the highest season also includes December and January, when it is the summer school vacation. However, remember that during summer the rain wets the muddy roads before setting off for a hiking up the mountains.
The prices of accomodation drop considerably out of season. Besides the period from April to August, the highest season also includes December and January, when it is the summer school vacation. However, remember that during summer the rain wets the muddy roads before setting off for a hiking up the mountains.
MINIMUM STAY TIME
You need at least three days to get to know everything and enjoy the most important attractions.
TOURISTIC INFORMATION
You can get a map or more detailed additional information at the touristic information office located at the Entrance Gate of Monte Verde. The 'Lost and Found' also works there.
BANKS
In Monte Verde there is a cash dispenser and a Bradesco agency at 40, Praça da Árvore (on Monte Verde Avenue).
However, you will have to go as far as Camanducaia for a Bank of Brazil, or Caixa Econômica Federal, Caixa Econômica Estadual and Bank Real.
EMERGENCIES
24 Hour Health Center (Monte Verde): Baixada Street, phone 3438-1682
Santa Casa Hospital (Camanducaia): phone 3433-1414
Police Station (Monte Verde): Eucaliptos Street, phone 3438-1481
Santa Casa Hospital (Camanducaia): phone 3433-1414
Police Station (Monte Verde): Eucaliptos Street, phone 3438-1481
Accomodation:
| Hotel Pousada Palos Verdes | Breakfast included | |||||
| » Address: 938 Sol Nascente Ave » Phone (0--35) 3438-1152, Telefax (0--35) 3438-1708 » 10 chalets (maximum 4 people). » Parking, laundry, swimming pool, fireplace, central heating, minibar, TV. » E-mail: reservas@palosverdes.com.br
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Cuisine:
There is a wide variety of places for eating out. From classy to fast food restaurants, you can taste good quality food at the cafeterias, tea houses, pizzerias, snack bars, chocolate shops, candy parlors as well as cheese and wine places.
The menus offer Italian, Swiss and international dishes as well as traditional local cooking, which is the typical regional mineira cuisine; the term mineira as elsewhere stated is related to the state of Minas Gerais. The most common main courses are trout fish and cheese fondue.
Some typical mineiro dishes: tropeiro beans, angu (a kind of pudding), carreteiro rice (rice cooked with shredded dry meat, onion, tomato and parsley), roast pumpkin filled with dry meat, chicken with okra, T-bone pork steak, canjiquinha (corn with pepper and pork), sausages, leitão pururuca, fryed eggs, tutu de feijão (beans), vaca atolada (beef ribs with cassava), cassava or corn cake, pamonha, curau (corn pudding), banana the Milanese way, etc. Besides those, a lot of dishes made of cole such as 'bambá de couve' or cole the mineira way. Coles are said to facilitate the digestion, once people usually eat high calories in cold days.
Shopping:
There are a few small gift shops spread in and around downtown area. As in most winter resorts in Brazil you will usually find many chocolate and cheese shops, woolen clothing items, toiletries and a lot of handcraft to buy for souvenir. For your meals you can go to local small markets to buy fruit and vegetable, meat and the other necessary ingredients to cook on your own, which of course you won't need if you go to sundry restaurants available.
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